How anodizing works

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You might not think about it much, but much of the metal around us is anodized. It’s a popular treatment for metals like aluminum and titanium that both makes the materials look great and protects them from day-to-day treatment. While it might seem like a form of painting, it’s actually a very different and very interesting process… if the right person is explaining it to you. That person is the Bill “The Engineer Guy” Hammack and explaining the anodizing process is exactly what he does in the video above.

The next four minutes will tell you everything you need to know, but anodizing basically adds an oxide layer to the outside of a metal. It’s not above the surface (like paint), so it can’t chip or scratch off and it has the ability to add color to a metal using a dye. In addition to aluminum and titanium, other anodized metals are tantalum, zinc, and magnesium.

If you’re were familiar with the term “anodizing”, you’ll see it all the time now that you understand what it is. Apple’s MacBook Pro is anodized aluminum, as is the iPod nano and iPod shuffle. And if you’re a student of the history of mountain biking then you must be familiar with anodizing, such as the Ringle stem above, which is famous for its use of “3D violet”. And it you are a car nut you’ve surely seen high-end, aftermarket car wheels which utilize anodized magnesium, which is lightweight, super strong, and stands up well to the tough conditions encountered when so close to the payment.

If you’re curious about the video or want to learn more about the process, the Engineer Guy (and his buddies) explain everything in the new book Eight Amazing Engineering Stories.